Matthews Questions Orrin Hatch’s Patriotism Because He Called Obamacare a ‘Bill’

'The patriot is the person is the person who accepts the law [...], who believes in government'

MSNBC host Chris Matthews said Sen. Orrin Hatch’s (R., Utah) reference to Obamacare as a “bill” was an intentional slight meant to “disrespect” the law and President Obama Thursday on MSNBC Live.

Matthews openly wondered how Hatch or any other Republican could consider themselves a “patriot” when they disrespect the president by opposing his policies.

“The patriot,” Matthews said, “is the person who accepts the law. The patriot is the one who believes in compromise, who believes in government”:

THOMAS ROBERTS: It’s weird Orrin Hatch — with Chuck Todd, he kept calling it a bill. He kept referring to Obamacare as a bill.

CHRIS MATTHEWS: You know why? He wants to disrespect it. Disrespect for institutions, for the election of a president, for the American voter who elected him is a real problem and why they can call themselves patriots as they do that is highly inconsistent. The patriot is the person who accepts the law and the patriot is the one who believes in compromise, who believes in government.